Parkwayshttp://parkways.seattle.gov
Seattle Parks and Recreation news and eventsFri, 09 Dec 2016 14:31:49 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Severe Weather and Snowfall Informationhttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/12/08/severe-weather-snowfall-information/
Thu, 08 Dec 2016 23:53:12 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7400Seattle Parks and Recreation staff are busy preparing for snowfall we anticipate will come through Seattle today and over the next few days. Please check our Parks and Recreation website and or Parkways Blog for detailed information about program cancellations. You can also find regular updates on our Twitter page. The following programs are currently cancelled: Before […]

]]>Seattle Parks and Recreation staff are busy preparing for snowfall we anticipate will come through Seattle today and over the next few days. Please check our Parks and Recreation website and or Parkways Blog for detailed information about program cancellations. You can also find regular updates on our Twitter page.

The following programs are currently cancelled:

Before School Programs are cancelled.

All early morning swim programs and practices are cancelled.

Community Center youth basketball practices scheduled at Seattle Public Schools are cancelled.

]]>Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the community to provide input for the Soft Surface Trails Planhttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/12/06/seattle-parks-and-recreation-invites-the-community-to-provide-input-for-the-soft-surface-trails-plan/
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 21:47:11 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7395Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in planning for the future of soft surface trails throughout Seattle. Please join us on Tuesday., Dec. 20, 2016 at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson Horticulture Bldg., 1600 South Dakota St., Seattle, WA 98108. This meeting provides an opportunity to learn about soft surface trails in Seattle […]

]]>Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in planning for the future of soft surface trails throughout Seattle. Please join us on Tuesday., Dec. 20, 2016 at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson Horticulture Bldg., 1600 South Dakota St., Seattle, WA 98108.

This meeting provides an opportunity to learn about soft surface trails in Seattle and to provide input on the plan for trails within SPR’s natural areas. The final plan will include recommendations for trail maintenance standards, levels of service and trail hierarchy, a determination process for how new trails are formed and overall guidance for the future of trails throughout Seattle. This plan is not specific to one particular park or area.

The Soft Surface Trails Plan will incorporate SPR’s commitment to healthy people, a healthy environment and strong communities. It will provide an outline for future funding opportunities.

SPR’s trails program marks a commitment to address the need for trail development standards, construction and maintenance. Under the program, we are taking an inventory of existing trails and coordinating new trail development.

]]>15th annual Polar Bear Plunge set for Jan. 1 at Matthews Beachhttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/12/06/15th-annual-polar-bear-plunge-set-jan-1-matthews-beach/
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:20:27 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7391Start off the New Year with a splash! Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Meadowbrook Community Center Advisory Council are co-sponsoring the 15th annual Polar Bear Plunge at noon on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 at Matthews Beach, 9300 51st Ave. NE. The Polar Bear Plunge is a FREE event. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the […]

Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Meadowbrook Community Center Advisory Council are co-sponsoring the 15th annual Polar Bear Plunge at noon on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 at Matthews Beach, 9300 51stAve. NE. The Polar Bear Plunge is a FREE event. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the plunge starts at noon sharp.

A 2017 Commemorative Badge of Courage will be given to all heroic Polar Bear participants who immerse themselves neck-deep in the water. The patch will show the world that participants braved the frigid waters.

As in previous years, younger polar bears and anyone else who needs a little more room can take part in the Polar Cub Club part of the event immediately preceding the main plunge. For the truly hearty, double-dipping is allowed.

Seattle Parks and Recreation offers a few tips for enjoying a fun, safe swim:

If you have heart problems or other serious medical concerns, we recommend that you consult your healthcare professional before taking the Polar Bear Plunge. If you can’t go in the water, come and watch!

Stay in the water for no longer than 15 minutes—you lose body heat 25 times faster in water than in air.

Keep your outer clothing on until you’re ready to get in the water. After the plunge, remove wet clothing before getting into dry clothes.

The Polar Bear Plunge was the first official event of its kind in the Seattle area and has inspired other, similar events throughout the region. Janet Wilson, Aquatic Center Coordinator at Meadowbrook Pool, started the event on Jan. 1, 2003. About 300 people participated in that first Polar Bear Plunge, and since then the attendance has soared to more than 1,900 brave bears. Like the plunge on Facebookhere.

]]>The Board of Park Commissioners will hold their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 8 in the Kenneth R. Bounds Board Room at the Parks Administration Building (100 Dexter Ave. N).

The Board of Park Commissioners will hold a study session on the draft People, Dogs and Parks Strategic Plan. Seattle Parks and Recreation staff will present the updated draft Plan, followed by an opportunity for the Commissioners to confer with professionals to address questions on animal behavior, environmental impacts and experiences from other urban park systems.The Board will also discuss the written and verbal testimony they have received, as well as proposed modifications to the plan based on public comment. The People, Dogs and Parks Strategic Plan is located here.

There will not be a vote and there will be no public testimony at this meeting.

The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners is a nine-member citizen board created by the City Charter. Four members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council; four members are appointed by the City Council; and one member is a young adult appointed by YMCA Get Engaged. The Board generally meets twice a month, normally on the second and fourth Thursday, to advise the Parks and Recreation Superintendent, the Mayor, and the City Council on parks and recreation matters.

]]>Moving the Giants project comes to Puget Soundhttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/12/02/moving-the-giants-project-comes-to-puget-sound-join-us-at-the-jefferson-park-planting-of-redwoods/
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 21:49:30 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7386Join us at the Jefferson Park planting of redwoods Seattle Parks and Recreation and Plant for the Planet invite the community to a planting celebration for redwood saplings on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 10 a.m. in Jefferson Park (3801 Beacon Ave. S), at the southwest corner of S Spokane St. and Beacon Ave. S. […]

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Plant for the Planet invite the community to a planting celebration for redwood saplings on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 10 a.m. in Jefferson Park (3801 Beacon Ave. S), at the southwest corner of S Spokane St. and Beacon Ave. S. Plant for the Planet, a world-wide kid-run organization of 8- to 14-year-olds interested in tree planting, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and fighting poverty through climate justice will plant the redwood saplings and perform a world premiere “Be Like a Tree,” composed by the group.

Redwoods are among the oldest, largest, most iconic trees on earth. As part of the Moving the Giants project, 300 Coast Redwood saplings will be delivered to 26 communities around the Puget Sound from December to January. Many other communities are planning special events for tree plantings.

These 300 Coast Redwood saplings have the same genetic structure as some of the world’s oldest and largest trees, have survived 3,000 years or more, and have the capacity to remove and sequester airborne carbon like no other species according to a team of researchers at Humboldt State University and the University of Washington.

]]>Community input needed for renovation and proposed expansion of the Seattle Asian Art Museumhttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/12/02/community-input-needed-for-renovation-and-proposed-expansion-of-the-seattle-asian-art-museum/
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 18:48:41 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7379On Sat., Dec. 10, 2016 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. the community is invited to attend a meeting about the renovation and proposed expansion of the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The meeting will be held at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E Prospect St. in Volunteer Park. It is an opportunity to learn more […]

]]>On Sat., Dec. 10, 2016 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. the community is invited to attend a meeting about the renovation and proposed expansion of the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The meeting will be held at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E Prospect St. in Volunteer Park. It is an opportunity to learn more about and provide input on the preservation, infrastructure improvements and proposed expansion plans for the Asian Art Museum.

The renovation and expansion goals include preserving the historic building; improving the museum’s infrastructure; protecting the collection with climate control and seismic system upgrades; adding gallery and education space with an expansion into the east side of Volunteer Park; and enhancing ADA accessibility and the museum’s connection to the park.

Renovation and proposed expansion plans are in progress and your input will help implement changes that will best serve the Asian Art Museum and park visitors. Depending on the design evolution, permitting and other processes, the current estimated timeline is to start construction in September 2017. Construction is anticipated to last one year, followed by another six months to move art back into the building.

]]>Seattle Parks and Recreation winter holiday closureshttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/11/30/seattle-parks-recreation-winter-holiday-closures/
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 23:20:15 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7374Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed or on modified schedules in observance of winter holidays: Community centers and environmental learning centers will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31, and will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, and Jan. 1 and 2. Teen Centers and Late Night programs will be […]

]]>Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed or on modified schedules in observance of winter holidays:

Community centers and environmental learning centers will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31, and will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, and Jan. 1 and 2.

Teen Centers and Late Night programs will be closed on Dec. 24, 25, 26 and. 31, and Jan. 1 and 2.

Indoor swimming pools will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31, and will be closed Dec. 25., 26, and Jan. 1 and 2.

Small Craft Centers will be closed on Dec. 24, 25, 26, and Jan. 1 and 2.

Golf courses will close at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31 and will be closed on Dec. 25. Golf courses will be open on Jan. 1. (Schedules subject to change. Some courses may be open later than 2 p.m. Please call specific courses directly before your trip. Contact information can be found at http://premiergc.com/-contact-us.)

Amy Yee Tennis Center will be open from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Dec. 24, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, and 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 2. The center will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

The Moorage Operations Office will be open Dec. 22-23, Dec. 28-30 from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Dec. 31 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The office will be closed Dec. 24 and 25.

]]>REVISED: Seattle Parks and Recreation seeks names for two new park sites in the Yesler and Fremont neighborhoodshttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/11/29/revised-seattle-parks-recreation-seeks-names-two-new-park-sites-yesler-fremont-neighborhoods/
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 23:50:41 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7373The deadline for submitting suggested names for the planned Yesler Neighborhood Park is being extended to Feb. 1, 2017. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is collaborating with the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) on outreach regarding the naming process. Over the next two months, SHA will be communicating with Yesler residents, external organizations, and residents and businesses […]

]]>The deadline for submitting suggested names for the planned Yesler Neighborhood Park is being extended to Feb. 1, 2017. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is collaborating with the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) on outreach regarding the naming process. Over the next two months, SHA will be communicating with Yesler residents, external organizations, and residents and businesses in the surrounding neighborhoods to solicit park name suggestions.

Yesler Neighborhood Park: The scope of this project is to develop a 1.7-acre neighborhood park that is part of the Yesler Terrace Master Planned Community. The intent of the park is to serve as a gathering place for current and future residents of Yesler Terrace as well as people who live and work in the surrounding community. The 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy provides $3,000,000 for a new park at Yesler Terrace. Additional funding has been secured from the Seattle Housing Authority, State of Washington Recreation Conservation Office Recreation Grant, RAVE Foundation, Stim Bullitt Park Excellence Fund, Wyncote Foundation, and Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Foundation. The overall budget now totals $4,330,000. More information can be found here.

Nominations for Troll’s Knoll Park Development were due to the parks Naming Committee on Nov. 16, 2016.

Troll’s Knoll Park Development: This project utilized existing public land to create a new park in the heart of Fremont. The park is a model design of a sustainable park space and provides a critical pedestrian link to other areas of Fremont, particularly bus stops and the developing neighborhood business district in northern Fremont. The Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund allocated $685,000 to this project. More information can be found here.

About the Parks Naming Committee and Park Naming Policy:

The Parks Naming Committee is comprised of one representative designated by the Board of Park Commissioners, one by the Chair of the City Council Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Waterfront Committee, and one by the Parks Superintendent. Criteria the committee considers in naming parks include: geographical location, historical or cultural significance, and natural or geological features. The Park Naming Policy, clarifying the criteria applied when naming a park, can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Publications/namingPolicy.htm

The Parks Naming Committee will consider all suggestions and make a recommendation to Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, who makes the final decision.

Please submit suggestions for park names for Yesler Neighborhood Park in writing by Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Parks Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.

]]>Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the community to provide input on the 2017 Development Plan, Gap Analysis and Long-term Acquisition Strategieshttp://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/11/29/seattle-parks-and-recreation-invites-the-community-to-provide-input-on-the-2017-development-plan-gap-analysis-and-long-term-acquisition-strategies/
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 22:11:06 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7370Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in citywide open house meetings and provide input on SPR’s 2017 Development Plan, Gap Analysis and Long-term Acquisition strategies for open space. SPR will participate in five geographically located meetings in conjunction with other City departments. These meetings are an opportunity for the community to […]

]]>Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in citywide open house meetings and provide input on SPR’s 2017 Development Plan, Gap Analysis and Long-term Acquisition strategies for open space. SPR will participate in five geographically located meetings in conjunction with other City departments. These meetings are an opportunity for the community to learn about SPR’s walkability mapping and give input on priorities for long-term open space acquisition goals.

The first open house meeting is Sat., Dec. 3, 2016 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N.

The 2017 Development Plan is a 6-year plan that documents and describes SPR facilities and lands, looks at Seattle’s changing demographics, and lays out a vision for the future. A goal in the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan is to consider access to our parks by transit, bicycle, and on foot when acquiring, siting and designing new park facilities or improving existing ones. SPR manages approximately 11% of the City’s land area, and is proposing a new mapping approach based upon walkability to inform the City’s long-term acquisition strategies for future open space.

Other opportunities to learn about the plan include participating in any of the events below:

]]>Work to repair the Burke-Gilman Trail and detour will be completed on Dec. 2, 2016http://parkways.seattle.gov/2016/11/28/work-repair-burke-gilman-trail-detour-will-completed-dec-2-2016/
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 23:05:55 +0000http://parkways.seattle.gov/?p=7369Repairs to four sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail that runs through the University District are complete and the final section will be completed on Fri. Dec 2, 2016. This final section detours cyclists off the trail near the University of Washington campus onto 25th Ave. NE. This detour is less than a half a mile […]

]]>Repairs to four sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail that runs through the University District are complete and the final section will be completed on Fri. Dec 2, 2016. This final section detours cyclists off the trail near the University of Washington campus onto 25th Ave. NE. This detour is less than a half a mile and the best alternative route.

Cyclists and pedestrians are asked to use caution in this area. Please dismount and walk bikes when crossing at Pend Oreille Road NE and 25th NE. The contractor has flaggers on the trail during working hours; please follow the signs. Seattle Parks and Recreation regrets the inconvenience to trail users and appreciates their cooperation. For the detour map visit www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/burke-gilman-trail-repairs.

The Seattle Park District provides $500,000 in funding for this Burke-Gilman Trail improvement project. Approved by voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for Seattle Parks and Recreation including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites. 2016 is the first full year of implementation and will include funding to tackle the $267 million major maintenance backlog; and will fund the improvement and rehabilitation of community centers; preservation of the urban forest; major maintenance at the Aquarium and Zoo; day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities; more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, programs for young people, people with disabilities, and older adults; development of new parks; and acquisition of new park land.